As part of efforts to ensure quality medical laboratory practice in Nigeria, the federal government has sealed off about 15 health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over poor medical laboratory standards.
The sealing of all low standards medical laboratory facilities in the country is expected to continue with a plan by the taskforce to visit Lagos and other parts of the country in the coming weeks.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the monitoring exercise, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Science Laboratory Council of Nigeria ( MLSCN), Prof. Anthony Emeribe said henceforth, government will not hesitate to wield the big stick in dealing with arbitrary practices in medical laboratory services.
Emeribe said: "Bequeathing a culture of quality service in our medical laboratories is an onerous task and we are rising to the occasion. Regardless of the successes already recorded in reducing quackery and the preponderance of fake or substandard medical laboratory products in the country, we still have a lot to do.
"In the past we were conducting field inspections more frequently, however a disturbing pattern emerged and caused us to tarry and reconsider our strategy."
Emeribe explained that this change of strategy has resulted to positive steps leading to sealing off about 15 health facilities in Abuja and the arrest of a culprit in Onitsha, Anambra State.
A breakdown of the sealed-off health facilities by the MLSCN include " four private hospitals and clinics, nine stand-alone medical laboratories and two pharmacy laboratory testing sites."
Further details revealed that about 58 health facilities were visited by three separate teams. There were also cases of 13 private laboratories operating with the MLSCN approval.
According to Emeribe, the council will not be deterred from carrying out its functions, stressing that, "those who are benefitting from the rot in the system are reluctant to embrace the transformation we are working towards. But they will not deter us."
Also, the Office of the Head of Service has directed that no science technologist should practice again in any medical laboratory in the country.
In a circular sent to the MLSCN and other agencies, the government said it will no longer tolerate the practice where science technologists and laboratory scientists are allowed to work in medical laboratory environment.
The circular urged all science technologists and laboratory scientists to rather restrict themselves within the purview of science laboratories regulated by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
By Paul Obi
This Day
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
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